Can the division and boasting in Corinth be a lesson for our local church? What about Paul would make us want to study this letter?
1 Cor 1:1-9 To Saints
1 Corinthians 1:1 Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
Paul’s calling was as any minister of the Gospel ought to be, “chosen by the will of God” (NLT). The letter was co-written by Sosthenes, probably as Paul dictated it. He was probably the same Sosthenes who was earlier beaten up by a crowd of religious bigots (Acts 18:17).
What is a generic description of those who Paul wrote to? How did he use the word saint differently than is commonly used today? Was this letter also written to us?
1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:
We find the generic description church or churches of God a dozen times in the New Testament (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 10:32; 1 Corinthians 11:16; 1 Corinthians 11:22; 1 Corinthians 15:9; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Timothy 3:5; 1 Timothy 3:15).
All true Christians are “called to be saints,” holy to God. Paul never uses the word saints in the narrow sense, applying it to only a select group of super Christians. He uses the word “saints” for all Christians.
The lessons addressed in Corinth are for “all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours” (NASB)
What are Paul’s greatest wishes for these saints and us?
1 Corinthians 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace are not just throw away lines used as a flippant greeting, but central to our Christian faith. “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV) and Jesus said, “in Me you may have peace.” (John 16:33 NKJV) Where does the grace we have received come from?
1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
A great gift is God’s favor, given by Jesus Christ. How does God’s grace enrich these Christians?
1 Corinthians 1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
Their church services must have been rich with gifted teachers, in logically speaking (logos) the knowledge of doctrine (gnósis). What was also demonstrated in them?
1 Corinthians 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
Their rich spiritual gifts were a demonstration of Paul’s testimony concerning Jesus Christ in them. Did they lack any gift? What was their attitude towards the Second Coming?
1 Corinthians 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
They were not “lacking” (ESV, NASB) in what God had given. The difference between a true and false Christian is whether they expectantly await or fearfully dread the Lord’s return. Could they be confident in God sustaining them to the very end? Could they be confident of not being blamed in judgment?
1 Corinthians 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
None of us can claim to have sinless perfection, but we can plead the blood of the Lamb, that covers all our sins. How does that play out in reality?
1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Fellowship is a sharing of all things, a joint participation. His is not an unshared inheritance, whereby one gets all and other siblings are left out. Jesus shares everything with us. What kind of unity is that?
1 Cor 1:10-16 Schisms
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
The divisions or schisms of Christian history have mostly been over unnecessary things not demanded by Christ or the Apostles. Calling ourselves by our denominational name is not speaking the same thing, but calling ourselves Christians is speaking the same thing. Certainly, liberal and legalistic heresies should be avoided, but the apostolic core of our faith unites all true Christians. What about contentions?
1 Corinthians 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
Quarrels in churches make spreading the good news difficult. Why should we invite new people to a family argument?
We certainly ought to be divided by Christian essentials from the ways of the world. “If you belonged to the world, its people would love you. But you don’t belong to the world. I have chosen you to leave the world behind, and that is why its people hate you.” (John 15:19 CEV) “Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17 NLT)
We also avoid those in our midst who are heretical or apostate. “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.” (Romans 16:17 NKJV) False teachers are spots in our church feasts, and often “speak great swelling words of emptiness” (2 Peter 2). It takes time to learn the difference between essentials and non-essentials. Does Paul explain one thing that is a non-essential?
1 Corinthians 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas [Peter]; and I of Christ.
It is a great shame when Christians argue over worldly issues, such as politics, placing one part of this world’s Babylon over the other. It is even worse when we divide over non-essentials of Christian doctrine. The Christian faith is founded upon the birth, ministry, death, burial, resurrection, ascension and conquering return of Jesus. We must admit that this essential can be found among Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants. Oh, yes we quibble over authority, icons, traditions and many other things, but does our lack of unity on such issues negate faith in Jesus?
It’s quite clear that causing division over human personalities is wrong. In the western church, quarrels over the “primacy” of Peter have gone on far too long. In the Nicene Creed, the word “catholic” is connected with all the apostles. The confession “one holy catholic and apostolic church” does not mean a “one apostle” church, but a church of all the apostles.
The western church has divided internally into various religious orders named after people, like Franciscans, Benedictines, Augustinians, Marists, and so on. Eastern Christians are divided by worldly national borders, in effect perpetuating the nationalistic spiritual division of the Old Testament. Like their Catholic forebears, Protestants also became divided by people’s names like Lutherans, Calvinists, and Wesleyans. Would Paul call division over personalities an essential or non-essential issue?
1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Paul did not want to be the center of people’s faith. To be fair, neither Calvin, Wesley nor Luther would have approved calling their followers by their name either. We are called to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.” (Jude 3 NASB) That faith is taught by Jesus and the Apostles in the New Testament. We don’t single out one apostle nor call ourselves after any subsequent church leader. Did Paul demand that he be the center of church life?
1 Corinthians 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
Some church overseers demand that they do all the baptisms, but not Paul. He set a humble example. What was Paul’s motive for not performing all the baptisms in the church?
1 Corinthians 1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
Paul was not here to promote himself, but reminds us that the job of a Christian leader is to point to Jesus, not self or denomination. When people are baptized into this or that church, church leaders have hijacked the ceremony for their own human purposes. We are authorized by Jesus to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19 NIV, ESV) and no other name. Didn’t Paul have to baptize the first converts?
1 Corinthians 1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
Why did he mention Stephanas? We learn later that “the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia” (1 Corinthians 16:15). What was Paul’s main mission if not to baptize? Is this also the main purpose that any overseer of a congregation should pursue?
1 Cor 1:17-25 Foolishness
1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
After the first converts are baptized, it was Paul’s practice to delegate later baptisms. This is a good practice which we can learn from. Bishops or other church elders that insist that all baptisms be performed by them, seem to ignore this inspired Scripture.
Paul also reminds us that great preaching has little to do with extraordinary oratory or being a skilled wordsmith, but more with emphasizing the cross of Christ. Let’s remember this next time we are tempted to describe enthusiasm, showmanship or crowd-pleasing eloquence as great preaching.
Better is a preacher with bad grammar and poor vocabulary who preaches the cross, than the world’s greatest sermonizer who only tickles peoples’ ears with smooth things and deceits (Isaiah 30:10). Yet, some think that preaching the cross is foolish. Why?
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Perhaps some are perishing. Do they deny the power of God in the cross? We should not be surprised that those outside the faith consider us and our beliefs to be foolish. It is more tragic to witness this inside the Christian community. What can we do about it?
1 Corinthians 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Leave their so-called wisdom and understanding alone. It will eventually be destroyed in God’s good time. What does God say about worldly wisdom?
1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
Mature Christians will recognize the foolishness of much so-called wisdom of ever-changing scientific theories, idolatrous political partisanship, news commentary, advertising hype and other popular opinions. Are we who deliver homilies humble enough to acknowledge Paul’s description of preaching?
1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Many scientists and philosophers arrogantly ignore the forensic evidence all around us that points to an intelligent designer. Preachers also must learn to be humble, knowing that our rhetoric is also foolish. God miraculously uses our weakness as speakers to save believers. What does popular culture require?
1 Corinthians 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
Compare this with what our modern cultures require. Some preachers pander to culture, allowing the world to bully them into submission and dominate their messages. Yet others faithfully preach what?
1 Corinthians 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
Faithful preachers are not frightened into capitulation to popular opinions, but faithfully preach the Bible focusing on Christ crucified. What does this message mean to those who are called?
1 Corinthians 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
What unites all who are called (whether Jewish Christians, Greek, Protestant, Orthodox or Roman) is the Gospel. Paul summarized it in these words: “Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” How do we view human wisdom and strength?
1 Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Christians understand God's so-called foolishness and the seeming weakness of the cross to be great wisdom and strength. It took the strength of incredible love, for Christ to remain on the cross and die for us instead of exercising His power and escape. Do we understand how weak we are?
1 Cor 1:26-31 Not Many Wise
1 Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
This ought to overcome any arrogance that we may be tempted to feel. Why if we are not so wise, mighty or noble, why did God choose us?
1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
Pride is excluded from the Christian life. Paul later wrote in his second letter to the Corinthians, “I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) He also wrote to the Galatians, “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross” (Galatians 6:14). What is the purpose of God choosing from among the weak of the world?
1 Corinthians 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
Let’s not get vain about ourselves. God chose the lowly, despised nothings. Why? God chose the “nobodies” of the world to bring those who think they are “somebodies” to nothing, to a reality check. True humility is not pretense, but honestly facing the reality of our human condition. We are but dust.
The most self-deceived believers in all Christendom are those with a Laodicean attitude. Rich in material things, God exposes their spiritual reality as “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17 NLT, NASB). This is the reality of the human condition. Should any of us glory in the things of the flesh?
1 Corinthians 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
This is the world of advertising, politics, and celebrities that God hates because it is fake. “These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJV) Is there any hope for us?
1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
We, the weak of the world, are in Jesus and He is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. We can boast then, but not in ourselves, in whom?
1 Corinthians 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
We may rightly boast in the Lord. Is a paraphrase of the Bible okay? Paul was inspired to paraphrase a verse from the Old Testament (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
Clearly, quarreling over human personalities is a time-wasting non-essential. Christians of all stripes are just as guilty of this sin as the Corinthians were. Sinless perfection is impossible. Therefore all preaching by faulty human beings is foolishness. Because preaching the cross is miraculously used by God for divine purposes, He gets the glory, and no man.
